Hanoi girl hospitalised with skull and eye socket fractures after playground fall

A young girl in Hanoi was hospitalised after being pushed from a slide by another child at an apartment complex playground, suffering head injuries including a fractured eye socket and skull trauma, according to her family and doctors treating her.

The incident, which was captured on video and widely shared on social media, occurred on the evening of 7 June at a residential complex on Tran Binh Street in Tu Liem ward, Hanoi.

Ngoc Anh, the girl's father, said the incident happened so quickly that the family was unable to react in time.

Footage shared by the family shows the girl standing on a slide before another child runs towards her and pushes her, causing her to fall approximately 1.5 metres onto the ground below.

"Scan results showed that my daughter suffered a fractured eye socket and a head haematoma. She is still in hospital so doctors can continue monitoring her condition," he said.

The father described the family's shock following the incident and said he blamed himself for not being closer to his daughter at the time.

"I blame myself for being careless and not staying by her side. Right now, the most important thing for our family is her health and hoping she makes a full recovery," he said.

According to the family, the girl's condition has since stabilised, although doctors have advised continued observation for a further two to three days to fully assess her injuries.

Doctors detail injuries and treatment

According to Dr Le Ngoc Duy, head of the Emergency and Poison Control Department at the National Children's Hospital, initial examinations found that the girl had sustained traumatic brain injuries.

A CT scan revealed an epidural haematoma measuring approximately 3 mm in the right frontal region, without displacement of the brain's midline structures. Doctors also identified a fracture of the right frontal bone extending into the roof of the right eye socket, as well as soft tissue swelling and bruising around the forehead and right eye.

Based on her medical history, the patient was admitted to hospital at around 10 p.m. on 7 June, roughly two hours after the accident. Doctors said she had fallen onto a hard surface from a height of about 1.2 metres after being pushed by another child while playing on the slide.

Following the fall, the girl cried and developed swelling around her right eye but did not lose consciousness. Medical staff reported no seizures, vomiting, limb weakness or bleeding from other parts of the body.

"At the time of admission, the child was breathing independently, with oxygen saturation at 98%. There were no signs of respiratory distress and no localised pain was recorded. Circulatory indicators, including pulse, blood pressure and capillary refill time, were all stable," Dr Duy said.

Doctors immediately immobilised the cervical spine and conducted a series of examinations, including CT scans of the cervical spine and skull as well as blood tests to assess the extent of the injuries.

After more than 24 hours of treatment and observation, the girl's respiratory, circulatory and neurological conditions had stabilised, according to the hospital.

However, doctors said they would continue closely monitoring her for potential neurological complications and assessing any possible long-term effects on her vision and overall health.

Questions raised over supervision

The girl's father said the child involved in the incident is autistic, but argued that this should not be viewed as a reason for adults to relax supervision responsibilities in public spaces.

"We all understand that autistic children may have greater difficulty controlling their emotions or behaviour. That is precisely why parents and relatives need to monitor them closely, especially in crowded places or areas with play equipment that may pose safety risks," he said.

In a statement shared on social media and later confirmed to VietNamNet, he wrote: "The child who pushed my child is autistic. We all know that autistic children have more difficulty controlling their emotions and behaviour than normal. When your child is a special child, parents and relatives have a responsibility to closely monitor them every single moment."

According to the family, there has not yet been an official meeting with the other child's family regarding the incident. The victim's family also said they had not received any visit or clear communication from the other parents following the accident.

The father has called for greater attention to child safety in communal play areas, warning that serious accidents can occur within seconds.

"Many accidents happen in just a few seconds. Adults cannot assume that playgrounds within residential areas are completely safe. Just a moment of inattention can lead to unfortunate consequences," he said.

He also urged apartment management authorities to strengthen security measures, monitor access to playground areas and regularly remind parents to supervise their children.

Public reaction and safety concerns

The incident has attracted significant attention online and prompted wider discussion about child supervision at apartment playgrounds, particularly in cases involving children who require additional care and monitoring.

Many social media users expressed concern about safety risks in residential play areas, where large numbers of children gather but adult supervision may not always be sufficient.

Child safety experts cited by local media have advised parents to continuously monitor children when using slides, swings, ball pits and other elevated play equipment. They also recommended teaching children appropriate behaviour, including taking turns and avoiding actions that could endanger themselves or others.

The victim's family said they hope the incident serves as a warning to other parents and helps prevent similar accidents in the future.